Question

Which of these materials absorbs the most light.
A:http://static.k12.com/calms_media/media/1141000_1141500/1141138/1/3751fc331c6915cd3b3ebff6e9c52474befa1dd8/MS2_PHY_07_06_Sky.jpg
B:http://static.k12.com/calms_media/media/1141000_1141500/1141133/1/ed466711dc86875fe8263f0525207b1312f9a7b8/MS2_PHY_07_06_Charcoal.jpg
C:http://static.k12.com/calms_media/media/1141000_1141500/1141135/1/5fbb8fdcd522485d47ccbac269eaee797575ec28/MS2_PHY_07_06_Milk.jpg
D:http://static.k12.com/calms_media/media/1141000_1141500/1141141/1/cb0279b57523c3e0564b6c5e647a3e21e53

Answer 1

Ah, very simple. First, if the sky absorb high amounts of light, how would we see? Now, what are colors? Colors are what we view when an object absorbs a particular wavelength of light. So, blue objects absorb blue light. White, however, is not a true color. White reflects all wavelengths. Black absorbs all wavelengths. So, what do you think the answer is then?

Answer 2

So it's water?

Answer 3

Look at the coal, what color is it? @Ahiru. I think this question is really asking something more along the lines of what object absorbs the widest range of light. Light absorbance would also depend on the size of an object. So, the ocean absorbs huge amounts of light (literally the photons), way more than a single piece of coal, even if the ocean only absorbs a narrow range of wavelengths.

Answer 4

I see so because coal is black its absorbs more light (like if you wear a black shirt on a hot day it makes you feel even hotter) but the sky would be the correct answer 'cause it's bigger??

Answer 5

wait... nevermind it has to be coal, we wouldn't be able to see

Answer 6

Yep. It really depends on if they are asking about the actual number of photons absorbed, or the range of wavelengths that something can absorb. You are right that the sky does absorb blue light. Actually it is the O2 in the atmosphere that does and as it has the most surface area of anything on Earth, it seems likely to me it does absorb the most photons, but not the widest range of wavelengths. @Ahiru

Answer 7

Oh ok! Thank you very much!

Answer 8

@Ahiru I am actually a PhD student that teaches intro biology at a University and mentors undergraduates in our research lab, and I HATE these types of questions. It isn't clear enough what it is asking and I do not feel it is fair to the students to give them these types of questions.

Answer 9

I agree, my parents can hardly ever help me with my homework anymore. They say things are very different from when they were my age.

Answer 10

@Ahiru, definitely. Even from when I was in high school to now, the ranks of Biology have changed drastically. Monera was still in use and taught for me. Heck, even in college (I am a mycologist btw, a person that studies fungi), the ranks I learned in my mycology class were changed literally in a Nov/Dec issue of a journal. It made all the ranks I had learned during the semester obsolete.

Answer 11

Oh that sucks! Did/do you have to take different classes instead?

Answer 12

No, I only had two semester until graduation so I just had to sit down and relearn things in my PhD program. @Ahiru

Answer 13

I see, well I wish you good luck in your teachings! Have a good day, bye!